Puzzle box

ABSTRACT

A puzzle box is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped made of rigid sheet material. The edges of the parallelepiped are hingedly connected together, but the faces thereof are each slit along one diagonal. Three of the slit diagonals meet at one corner of the parallelepiped, while the other three slit diagonals meet at the opposite corner. The resulting structure may be turned inside out as well as foldably transformed into a variety of configurations.

United States Patent [72] inventor Stephen S. Murii Eugene, Oreg. [2i] Appl. No. 69,856 [22] Filed Sept. 4, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 9, 1971 [73] Assignee Scientific Demonstrators, inc.

Eugene, Oreg.

[54] PUZZLE BOX 10 Claims, 17 Drawing Figs.

[5 l Int. Cl [50] Field of Search [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 847,545 3/1907 Braine 273/155, 4 /1 R A63t 9/08 273/155; 46/] R, l L

4/1935 Stalker 6/1954 Smart OTHER REFERENCES Mathematical Models, Cundy & R ollett, 2nd Edition reprinted 1962 University Press. Oxford, Great Britain, QAl lC8 Flexagons," page 205 relied on copy in 273/l55 273/155 UX 273/l55X Primary E.raminer-Anton O. Oechsle AnorneyBuckhorn, Blore, Klarquist and Sparkman ABSTRACT: A puzzle box is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped made of rigid sheet material. The edges of the parallelepiped are hingedly connected together. but the faces thereof are each slit along one diagonal. Three of the slit diagonals meet at one corner of the parallelepiped, while the other three slit diagonals meet at the opposite corner. The resulting structure may be turned inside out as well as foldably transformed into a variety of configurations PATENTEDuuv 9 I97! SHEET 1 [IF 2 STEPHEN S. MURFF INVENTOR BUCKHOR/V, BLORE, KLA/POU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS PATENTEDHUV 9 I9?! 3,6188 54 SHEET 2 BF 2 STEPHEN S. MURFF BUCKHOR/V, BL ORE, KLAROU/ST a SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS PUZZLE BOX The object of the present invention is to provide a novelty, toy or puzzle which may be readily transformed into a plurality of configurations that will delight and intrigue the user.

The invention comprises a puzzle box made of twelve rigid sheet material components, each of which is right triangular in shape. Each leg edge of each component is hingedly connected to a leg edge of an adjacent component. The hypotenuse edges of the components are free. The components may be foldably arranged in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped as well as into configurations.

Considered otherwise, the puzzle box may be achieved by starting with a rectangular parallelepiped formed of rigid sheet material whose edges are hingedly connected together. The faces of the parallelepiped are each slit along one diagonal thereof to form a pair of right triangular components or elements. Three of the slit diagonals meet at one corner of the parallelepiped, while the other three meet at the opposite corner. The resulting structure may be turned inside out and may also be foldably transformed into a variety of configuratims.

When the right triangular components are formed in the shape of right isosceles triangles, the resulting structure is a cube. When the opposite faces of the components are differently colored, the structure may be folded into a parallelepiped of either of two colors.

In the drawings, FIG. I is a perspective view, with a part broken away, of an embodiment of the invention in the form of a cube whose square faces are slit along diagonals, three of which meet at one corner, the remaining three meeting at the opposite corner.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating a method of constructing the hinged edges of the box.

FIG. 2a is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and illustrating another method of construction.

FIG. 2b is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and illustrating still another method of construction.

FIG. is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and illustrating still another method of construction.

FIGS. 3-14 illustrate forms into which the box of FIG. 1 may be folded.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the puzzle box 20 of the present invention formed in the shape of a cube. As shown in FIG. 2, the box is made of two layers of stiff heavy paper or cardboard 22 between which is sandwiched a thin sheet of paper or flexible plastic 24 which serves as a hinge for the edges.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2a the box may be made of a stiff sheet plastic material 25, in which case the edges 26 thereof are scored deeply on each side so that a 360 fold is possible.

Another form of construction is shown in FIG. 2b. An inside layer of rigid sheet material 40 is covered on both its inside and outside with thin flexible hinging material 41 to make a double hinge.

A still further modification is illustrated in FIG. 20. There the rigid sheet material elements 42 are hinged together by ring hinges 43 to allow free movement of the triangles.

Each of the faces 28 of the box is slit along a diagonal 30 thereof to form a pair of right isosceles triangular components 32. Three of the faces 28 are slit in a manner such that the diagonals 30 meet at the corner 34, while the other three-slit diagonals 30 meet at the opposite corner 36.

The outside of the cube 20 as shown in FIG. I may be colored one color while the inside is colored another.

As an be seen from FIG. 1, the triangular components 32 are hingedly connected together by their legs 38, each leg of one component being so attached to a leg edge of an adjacent component. The hypotenuse edges 40 of the components are free. The resulting structure may be turned inside out to form a cube of either of two colors. The structure may also be foldably arranged into a wide variety of configurations, some of which are illustrated in FIGS. 3-14.

Iclaim:

l. A puzzle box comprising twelve rigid sheet material components, each of said components being right triangular in shape, each leg edge of one component being hingedly connected to a leg edge of an adjacent component, the hypotenuse edges of said components being free, whereby said components may be foldably arranged in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped.

2. The puzzle box of claim 1 in which said components comprise right isosceles triangles.

3. The puzzle box of claim 1 in which the opposite faces of said components are differently colored whereby said parallelepiped may be formed of either of two colors.

4. A puzzle box comprising a rectangular parallelepiped formed of rigid sheet material, the edges of said parallelepiped being hingedly connected together, the faces of said parallelepiped each being slit along one diagonal thereof, three of said slit diagonals meeting at one corner of said parallelepiped, the other three of said slit diagonals meeting at the opposite corner of said parallelepiped, the resulting structure being foldably transformable into a plurality of configurations.

5. The puzzle box of claim 4 in which said rectangular parallelepiped comprises a cube.

6. The puzzle box of claim 4 in which said edges of said parallelepiped are hingedly connected together so that a 360 fold is possible.

7. The puzzle box of claim 4 in which said parallelepiped is formed of a double layer of stiff material and a flexible layer of material sandwiched therebetween, said flexible layer serving as a hinge for said edges of said parallelepiped.

8. The puzzle box of claim 4 in which said parallelepiped is formed of a stiff sheet of plastic material, said plastic material being deeply scored on each side thereof at said edges of said parallelepiped.

9. The puzzle box of claim 4 in which said parallelepiped is formed of rigid sheet material covered inside and outside with flexible material to permit double hinging at said edges.

10. The puzzle box of claim 4 in which said edges of said parallelepiped are connected by ring hinges. 

1. A puzzle box comprising twelve rigid sheet material components, each of said components being right triangular in shape, each leg edge of one component being hingedly connected to a leg edge of an adjacent component, the hypotenuse edges of said components being free, whereby said components may be foldably arranged in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped.
 2. The puzzle box of claim 1 in which said components comprise right isosceles triangles.
 3. The puzzle box of claim 1 in which the opposite faces of said components are differently colored whereby said parallelepiped may be formed of either of two colors.
 4. A puzzle box comprising a rectangular parallelepiped formed of rigid sheet material, the edges of said parallelepiped being hingedly connected together, the faces of said parallelepiped each being slit along one diagonal thereof, three of said slit diagonals meeting at one corner of said parallelepiped, the other three of said slit diagonals meeting at the opposite corner of said parallelepiped, the resulting structure being foldably transformable into a plurality of configurations.
 5. The puzzle box of claim 4 in which said rectangular parallelepiped comprises a cube.
 6. The puzzle box of claim 4 in which said edges of said parallelepiped are hingedly connected together so that a 360 * fold is possible.
 7. The puzzle box of claim 4 in which said parallelepiped is formed of a double layer of stiff material and a flexible layer of material sandwiched therebetween, said flexible layer serving as a hinge for said edges of said parallelepiped.
 8. The puzzle box of claim 4 in which said parallelepiped is formed of a stiff sheet of plastic material, said plastic material being deeply scored on each side thereof at said edges of said parallelepiped.
 9. The puzzle box of claim 4 in which said parallelepiped is formed of rigid sheet material covered inside and outside with flexible material to permit double hinging at said edges.
 10. The puzzle box of claim 4 in which said edges of said parallelepiped are connected by ring hinges. 